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Japan, a key US security ally, monitored Russian and Chinese spy ships navigating close to its coastlines. These maneuvers by Moscow and Beijing come as part of joint naval exercises that demonstrate their growing military influence.
Why It Matters
Japan is situated in a strategic north-south island chain in the Western Pacific, alongside Taiwan and the Philippines. This area is under a US containment strategy aimed at restricting the military activities of its adversaries, namely Russia and China, in case of conflict.
Under their “strategic partnership without limitations,” Russia and China have deepened their military ties to challenge American dominance in the Indo-Pacific region. Earlier this month, they conducted a war game and joint patrol in the Russian Far East.
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What To Know
On Tuesday, Japan’s Defense Ministry reported that Russian and Chinese naval activities were observed near the country. A Russian intelligence-gathering ship, identified by its hull number as the Kurily, passed through the Tsugaru Strait between Saturday and Sunday. Another Chinese ship, identified by its hull number as the CNS Yuhengxing, transited the Osumi Strait off Kyushu.
The narrow straits in northern Japan connect the Sea of Japan (referred to as the East Sea in South Korea) with the wider Pacific Ocean. Neither spy ship entered Japanese territorial waters, which generally extend up to 13.8 miles from the coastline but are claimed by Japan to be shorter in these straits.
In both incidents, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force deployed ships and aircraft to monitor the Russian and Chinese vessels and gather intelligence.
What People Are Saying
Japan’s defense white paper 2025 stated that “the Russian military is continuing active military activities in the vicinity of Japan and its surrounding areas, showing its tendency to deploy the latest military equipment in the Far East. Russia’s military activities in the Indo-Pacific region, including Japan, coupled with its strategic partnership with China, are posing a strong security concern.”
Senior Colonel Jiang Bin, a spokesperson for China’s Defense Ministry, said at a press conference on August 8 that “China and Russia adhere to the principles of non-alliance, non-confrontation, and not targeting any third party in developing bilateral and military relations, and jointly play an important role in safeguarding international and regional peace and stability.”
What Happens Next
It remains uncertain whether the Russian and Chinese naval vessels will sail near Japan’s coastlines again. As reported on Tuesday, they were docked near the Bering Sea, which borders Alaska and the Aleutian Islands.
